Outlook: A new year puts both teams into new positions. While McMahon returns a couple of key running backs in Hinton Jr. and Snider, it's running behind a whole new offensive line. Likewise, the Governors are in the same boat in the trenches, too. Swinson, however, rushed for more than 1,500 yards a year ago and will be a focus for the Senators defense. Consiglio is also a returning starter at QB for cross.

Outlook: Wilton will have the biggest question mark on the field as it replaces do-it-all quarterback Brett Phillips, a two-year starter, but head coach Bruce Cunningham is hoping collectively the team can spread around its offense enough to offset some the yardage Phillips piled up via both his arm and his feet. Defensively, Wilton's strength is in its linebacker corps where three starters return. The Indians lost their QB from a year ago and he was a three-year starter, so if Wilton's defense can rattle the Guilford QB, that could go along way to a Warriors win. It's a very young Guilford squad which lost a lot of specialty players, but four of five lineman return. Pensa also has great hands, catching 10 TD passes last season.

Outlook: Even though both teams missed the state playoffs last season, any time Staples and Xavier get together on a gridiron is a special matchup. Both teams lost a lot, including its quarterbacks and top running backs, so each team enters the new season with plenty of question marks. Over the years, though, Staples coach Marce Petroccio and Xavier boss Sean Marinan have both proven to be able to find the answers. This is a game that could come down to two things -- turnovers and who wins the battle in the trenches. Staples has an experienced O-line, so miscuese maybe the intangible.

Outlook: One of the big surprises of last season was how easily the man-Hand-led the Tigers a year ago, but 2014 should be a vastly different kind of game. The Rams lost 28 players to graduation, including 13 who went off to play in college. Plus, leading returning rusher Frank Cognetta, a senior, is out with an injury and will miss the first couple of weeks. That will put more pressure on new QB Mike Collins, a junior who won the job during camp. New Canaan, however, is New Canaan and has a program that runs deep. Hand, on the other hand, returns 15 starters and its whole offensive line. It also as its QB returning, too, so this year the Hand could be on the other foot.

Weston at Bethel

Time: Friday, 7 p.m.

Site: At Bethel High School

Team Records: Weston 0-0, Bethel 0-0

Last Meeting: Did not play last season; Weston def. Bethel, 33-20, in 2012.

Outlook: With only 35 players on its roster, Weston is going to have a lot of two-way players as it faces a Bethel team that went 9-3 a year ago. Lummis will try to carry Weston on his strong back, but he's going to need help from teammates who need to grow up fast. Bethel was hit hard by graduation, but has put together a nice winning tradition of late. The Bobcats are big up front, which will be tough for Weston to handle.

Outlook: On paper, the matchup appears to be two teams heading in different directions. Westhill bounced back from last season's season-opening loss to go 6-3 the rest of the way while Norwalk, which opened 2-1, finished 4-7. Norwalk features perhaps the best two-lay lineman in the FCIAC in the Syracuse-bound Adams, but the big questions marks are who will man the skill positions for the Bears and what kind of success will they have? On the Westhill sideline, a new transfer quarterback -- and coach's son -- Frank Marcuccuio Jr. (Shelton) will lead a team that has been injury riddled early on.